A demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to Him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” Matthew 9:32-34 ESV1
Read Matthew 9:32-34, 12:22-32 & 43-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14-26
Never in my life have I held a dinner party or engaged in festivities at someone else’s home that was as interrupted as the banquet Matthew held in Jesus’ honor. Jesus had been taken from the party to raise a girl from the dead. On His way to do that, He healed a woman from a bleeding condition. On His way back to Matthew’s party, He was approached by two blind men who asked for healing; to get their miracle, they followed Him right into Matthew’s home. “As [the two blind men] were going away [from Matthew’s home], behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to Him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the prince of demons’” (Matthew 9:32-34). Matthew, Jesus, the disciples, tax collectors, sinners, a distraught father, two blind men, the demon-oppressed man, those who accompanied the sick and needy, the Pharisees and scribes, and an amazed crowd all appeared to be at Matthew’s home during the course of this party. I wonder, did Matthew or Jesus ever get a chance to eat? Was this what Matthew expected when he “made [Jesus] a great feast in his house” (Luke 5:29)? But then again, Matthew wasn’t called to be a party host, and Jesus didn’t come to Earth to get good meals.
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